Page 64 of Merciless King

Lulu whooped. “Go, London!”

Ruby pulled a couple of bills from her back pocket and waved them around. “Dance, baby, and I’ll make it rain!”

We all burst out laughing.

I grabbed the pole, still giggling, and started doing the moves Steph and Willa had taught us. I was bent back, doing a good imitation of dry-humping the pole, getting into it more and more thanks to the hoots and cheers of my new friends, when I spun toward the door. It was open and a group of very large guys were standing there, watching.

I was mid swing and couldn’t stop. As I swung by, I caught sight of Sunny’s husband, Zeke, and Lulu’s husband, Hunter. My second pass I saw some faces I didn’t recognize flash into view, and standing beside them was—Van. I slammed on the brakes so hard I almost propelled myself across the room. If it wasn’t for Ruby grabbing the back of my shirt, I would have.

Then they were surrounding us, greeting their significant others. Grinning, all of them.

Except Van.

He was most definitely not grinning.

Lulu touched my arm, and I tore my eyes from him. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I had no idea they’d show up.”

Ruby had planted her hands on Neco’s back. “Out. This is girls only.”

She was kicking them out for my benefit, and I didn’t want that. I knew Tomas had been away for a night on business and he had Steph wrapped in his arms, saying something in her ear. I wasn’t going to be the sad sack that ruined everyone’s fun.

I touched Ruby’s arm, and when she looked back at me, I mouthed, “I’m fine.”

She mouthed back, “Are you sure?”

I nodded.

I’d stay another half hour then quietly excuse myself, feign tiredness or something. Tomas and Steph started moving, slow dancing. Lulu and Hunter did the same, Zeke and Sunny, too. Ruby was dancing around Neco like he was a stripper pole, and he was grinning like he’d just won the lottery.

Willa grabbed my hand and poured some more cocktails. She handed a glass to me and another to Jude, her hulking fiancé.

The big man sniffed it and screwed up his face. “What the fuck is this?”

“Bend Over Shirley,” she said with a grin.

His brows shot up. “Did you just call me Shirley?”

Willa howled with laughter, and at the look on Jude’s face, I couldn’t help but join in. When Willa pulled herself together, she explained it was the name of the drink. Jude sipped it, screwed up his face again, and handed it to Van, who had just walked up behind him.

He was wearing jeans that hugged his long legs and that squeezable butt, and a charcoal button-down shirt undone at the collar. He looked like he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days, all scruffy and a little rough around the edges. What would that scruff feel like against my bare skin?

I took a startled step back because I was tipsy, more than tipsy, and for a moment I couldn’t remember why I had to stay away from him. My immediate reaction to seeing him was to run into his arms, plaster myself against him, and lay one on him. I wanted to kiss him badly.

He watched me step back, and his brows shot up, his jaw going tight.

Willa looked between us, watching this exchange, and her expression darkened. She turned back to Van and took a step toward him, like she was about to give him hell. Jude noticed as well and put an arm around her waist, holding her back. He dipped his head and said something in her ear.

Willa looked between Van and me again and narrowed her eyes. Maybe I wasn’t the only one who was a little tipsy.

I quickly gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “Why don’t you go dance? I’m fine here.”

Huh, my words were a little slurred.

“Excellent idea,” Jude said before Willa could answer. He lifted her off her feet so they were eye level, and started moving around the floor in a very bad imitation of a waltz. Willa’s feet dangled in the air as he swung her around like a rag doll and she giggled her ass off.

I turned back to Van and attempted another smile. I was pretty sure I was failing the whole casual vibe I was going for when Van’s frown deepened.

He leaned in so I could hear him. “I didn’t know you’d be here,” he said. “If this is too hard for you…” He lifted his hand like he wanted to touch me, then dropped it. “Shit, sorry, baby. I’ll leave.”